Low weight hydrogen distribution system and components

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen-carrying component for a fuel distribution system of an energy conversion system which can be operated at a pressure range from at least 0.1 MPa, comprising a base body, at least one gas conduit in the main body, at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet, which are in fluid communication via the at least one gas conduit, the base body being substantially made of a tempered steel having the following composition: 0.18 to 0.45% by weight of carbon, 0.15 to 0.40% by weight of silicon, 0.4 to 1.0% by weight of manganese, 0.4 to 1.2% by weight of chromium, 0.08 to 0.35% by weight of molybdenum, at most 0.035% by weight of phosphorus, at most 0.04% by weight of sulfur, iron and smelting-related steel accompanying elements; wherein the tempered steel has the following properties: a tensile strength in the range from 650 MPa to 950 MPa; a yield strength or a 0.2% elasticity limit in the range from 500 MPa to 850 MPa; and an elongation at break in the range from 12% to 35%.The disclosure also relates to a hydrogen distribution system, an energy conversion plant, and a drive system for vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Hydrogen-carrying component for a fuel distribution system of an energy conversion system operable in a pressure range of at least 
       0.1 MPa, comprising:
 a base body; 
 at least one gas conduit in the base body; 
 at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet in fluid communication via the at least one gas conduit; 
 
       wherein the base body is substantially made of a tempered steel 
       having the following composition:
 0.18 to 0.45% by weight of carbon, 
 0.15 to 0.40% by weight of silicon, 
 0.4 to 1.0% by weight of manganese, 
 0.4 to 1.2% by weight of chromium, 
 0.08 to 0.35% by weight of molybdenum, 
 at most 0.035% by weight of phosphorus, 
 at most 0.04% by weight of sulfur, 
 iron and smelting-related steel accompanying elements; 
 
       wherein the tempered steel has the following properties:
 a tensile strength in the range from 650 MPa to 950 MPa; 
 a yield strength or a 0.2% elasticity limit in the range from 500 MPa to 850 MPa; and 
 an elongation at break in the range from 12% to 35%. 
 
     
     
         2 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  claim 1 , wherein the tempered steel has a defect depth of at most 200 μm, preferably of at most 130 μm, on a inner side of the at least one gas conduit. 
     
     
         3 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the carbon content of the tempered steel is in the range from 0.18 to 0.33% by weight, preferably in the range from 0.22 to 0.29% by weight. 
     
     
         4 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the phosphorus content of the tempered steel is less than or equal to 0.025% by weight, and/or wherein the sulfur content of the tempered steel is less than or equal to 0.010% by weight. 
     
     
         5 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the tensile strength of the tempered steel is in the range from 700 MPa to 950 MPa, preferably in the range from 750 MPa to 950 MPa, even more preferably in the range from 750 MPa to 900 MPa; and/or 
       wherein the yield strength or the 0.2% elasticity limit of the tempered steel is in the range from 600 MPa to 850 MPa, more preferably in the range from 650 MPa to 800 MPa; and/or 
       wherein the elongation at break of the tempered steel is in the range from 13%-30%, preferably in the range from 14% to 28%, even more preferably in the range from 15%-25%. 
     
     
         6 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the part of the base body enclosing the gas conduit has a maximum wall thickness in the range from 0.8 mm to 9.0 mm, preferably in the range from 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm, more preferably in the range from 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm. 
     
     
         7 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the component comprises at least two subunits which are connected by at least one welded and/or at least one soldered connection. 
     
     
         8 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the component is a pipe, a valve, a T-piece, a pressure reducer, a filter, a flow limiter or a common distributor, or combines at least two of these functions in one component. 
     
     
         9 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the base body withstands an internal gas pressure of at least 30 MPa, preferably of at least 70 MPa and more preferably of at least 100 MPa in continuous operation. 
     
     
         10 . Hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein an outer surface of the base body is coated with at least one of the following coatings: a zinc-nickel coating; a galvanic coating; a coating produced by electrophoretic deposition or a powder coating. 
     
     
         11 . Hydrogen distribution system for an energy conversion system comprising at least one first hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims 1-10  and preferably at least one second hydrogen-conducting component according to  one of the preceding claims 1-10  which are in fluid communication. 
     
     
         12 . Hydrogen distribution system according to  claim 11 , comprising a high-pressure section and preferably a low-pressure section and a pressure reducer connecting the high-pressure section to the low-pressure section, wherein the high-pressure section is designed for an operating pressure of at least 30 MPa, preferably of at least 70 MPa, more preferably of at least 100 MPa. 
     
     
         13 . Hydrogen distribution system according to  claim 12 , wherein the high-pressure section comprises one or more of the following components: an outer tank valve or an inner tank valve, a filter, a check valve, at least one filling conduit and at least one withdrawal conduit; a coalesence filter, a T-piece; a filling nozzle, a common distributor and a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         14 . Stationary or mobile energy conversion system comprising: 
       a hydrogen supply line or a hydrogen tank; 
       a hydrogen combustion engine, a hydrogen gas turbine and/or 
       a fuel cell; and 
       a hydrogen distribution system according to one of claims  11 - 13  which supplies hydrogen from the supply line or the tank to the combustion engine, the gas turbine and/or the fuel cell. 
     
     
         15 . A hydrogen propulsion system for a vehicle comprising: 
       at least one high pressure hydrogen tank; 
       a hydrogen combustion engine, a hydrogen gas turbine and/or a fuel cell; and 
       a hydrogen distribution system according to one of claims  11 - 13  which supplies the hydrogen from the at least one high pressure hydrogen tank to the combustion engine, the gas turbine and/or the fuel cell.